Gilbert, Arizona 85234
Gilbert Cosmetic Dentist Reveals the Shocking Secret about Cosmetic Dentistry
With the recent popularity of television shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "The Swan" there is a hightened awareness in cosmetic dentistry and how it can change a person's life. Coincidetally, there has also been a skyrocket in the number of "cosmetic dentists". In fact, from what I have seen, most dentists will claim to be a cosmetic dentist.
But what does that mean?
Typically those that name themselves cosmetic dentists are basically general dentists doing cosmetic procedures. And whether they have done one cosmetic case or one hundred, they will accept the title of "cosmetic dentist" or even "cosmetic specialist."
But here's the scoop...
Everyone that graduates from dental school is a general dentist, and a majority of them also claim to be cosmetic dentists. But there is a big difference, which we will explain here.
The problem: Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. This means there is no restriction on a dentist saying they are a cosmetic dentist. So, many dentists claim to be cosmetic dentists. Are they lying? I don't think so. They feel that because they know how to do tooth-colored fillings and white crowns they are capable of addressing the cosmetic concerns of most patients.
However, doing cosmetic dentistry properly requires extra training and a heavy commitment of time, money, and energy for the dentist. And, if dentists can announce themselves as cosmetic dentists without this training, why should they go through all of that expense, travel, and time away from the office?
So What's the Big Difference?
Honestly, there is a very different approach to dentistry by a true cosmetic dentist. Here are some of the differences:
A cosmetic dentist is passionate about the appearance of the work and getting it to look as beautiful as possible. General dentists have a much lower expectation of "beauty" in dental work. Have you ever seen someone who had veneers and it was very obvious? This is a result of a dentist who is dabbling in cosmetic dentistry without the extra training, or who hasn't taken the time to customize the veneers to that patient's face and smile.
Have you ever been to a dentist that had the attitude that they know what is best for you? Cosmetic dentistry is the art of addressing the self-perception of the patient. A cosmetic dentist knows that if the patient is not pleased with the appearance of the work, the case is a failure. It is not uncommon, when a patient addresses cosmetic concerns with a general dentist, that the dentist will say that there is nothing wrong with the patient's teeth. This is because they really do not understand the depth of the patient's concerns.
Someone once said, "General dentists are trained to fix things. Cosmetic dentists are trained to create things." I have found this to be extremely true. In general dentistry we learn to become experts at form and function of the teeth. But through cosmetic training, a dentist must develop that added spark of creativity and attention to beauty. It's like the difference between a building contractor and an architect—it takes a completely different personality type to succeed with each dimension.
Cosmetic dentists must dedicate themselves to extensive hours of education after dental school, knowing that it isn't required, simply for the passion of being able to create smiles of beauty. Is there any special degree or accolade that comes with all of the extra cosmetic training? Nope. It is just an inherent desire to become better at improving people's lives.
"Less than 3% Should Probably Call Themselves Cosmetic Dentists!"
How many of the dentists who claim to be cosmetic dentists actually are? It's tough to say because it is an objective observation. But if I had to guess from what I have seen, I would say that less than 3% have the experience, training, and passion to be in that category. I attend a lot of cosmetic lectures, training and study clubs and I always see the exact same dentists every time. They are those few who have dedicated themselves to the art of cosmetic dentistry and improving their technique. Out of the hundreds of dentists in the Valley, the same few are always there.
So, in conclusion to this very long post, just remember that every dentist will tell you he is a "cosmetic dentist". I'm pretty sure that I called myself a cosmetic dentist the day I left dental school. Because I didn't know that there was a whole other level of cosmetic training out there that I would need to seek out before I could feel good about advertising myself as such. I knew that I loved creating beautiful smiles and I've been fortunate to study with some of the great cosmetic dentists in the country so I could develop the skills to provide my patients with the smile they've always dreamed of.
Kris Heap DDS
Check out my blog about "How to find a Cosmetic Dentist in Gilbert and Mesa"